Diocesan News21 Oct 08

Newly Trained Lay Volunteers to partner work of Clergy in the Church

Monday 20th October 2008 marks the historic beginning of a strategic change of approach to church ministry in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.  Seven people, trained over the last two years to a professional standard, will be commissioned by Bishop Paul Colton to work alongside the ordained clergy in pastoral work in the Diocese.

Bishop Paul Colton said: 

‘In terms of lay voluntary work, this takes the Church of Ireland in this Diocese to the next level.  Here are seven volunteers who have undergone significant professional training.  They will now serve in teamwork with the people and clergy in seven parishes of the Diocese and in a variety of hospitals and caring institutions. I know each of them well and I know that they bring rich life experience, deep faith and their newly-honed insights and skills to their work as pastors.’

The seven volunteers have been trained by the new Director of Education at Saint Luke’s Home, the Reverend Bruce Pierce, and have explored the practical aspects of their training in partnership with Marymount Hospice, the Bon Secours Hospital Cork, Skibbereen Hospital, Bantry Hospital, a variety of nursing homes and Saint Luke’s Home.

The seven people commissioned at the special Service on Monday 20th October at 8 p.m. in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork are: Rosemary Hickey (Carrigrohane), Howard Dunne (Douglas), Vivien Squire (Carrigrohane), Elizabeth Daunt-White (Crosshaven), Dorothy Beamish (Dunmanway), Sybil Fuller (Blackrock) and Gillian Powell (Bandon).